The Intricate Influence of the Placebo Effect on Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids
Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids June 12, 2018 DOI: 10.1159/000489291 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Randomized Placebo-controlled Double-blind Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key points | The authors propose that the "meaning response" may contribute to the broad palliative and therapeutic effects attributed to medical cannabis, beyond its pharmacological actions. They contend that anecdotal reports and the lack of standardized products and randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials hinder scientific assessment, and note that the endocannabinoid system may mediate part of the placebo effect. |
Abstract
The botanical drug cannabis flos (inflorescence of Cannabis sativa L.) has a unique popular status as being a potent recreational drug and bona fide universal remedy (panacea). Generally, cannabinoids exert therapeutic effects in a broad range of pathophysiologies related to inflammation, pain, metabolic and stress-related conditions in preclinical animal models. However, the translation of such data to humans still lacks an evidence-based foundation. Motivated by the booming cannabis manufacturing industry and the increasing worldwide self-therapy by patients, there are cumulative accounts about broad therapeutic effects of cannabis and legal cannabinoids like cannabidiol (CBD) beyond statistical evidence. The numerous affirming anecdotal reports by patients pose a challenge to physicians and legal authorities. Moreover, the lack of standardization of cannabis products and widely missing randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials largely hinder the scientific assessment of medical cannabis in humans. Given the recent insight that the endocannabinoid system is mediating, at least in part, a placebo effect, psychoactive cannabis and cannabinoids could exert complex neuropharmacological actions. As discussed in this commentary, the meaning response may play a role in the broad palliative and therapeutic effects of medical cannabis unprecedented by other phytopharmaceuticals.